Automatic release for cable-grips



(Nomoael.) A' D' 85 R W SMITH.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE FOR CABLE GRIPS. No. 15a-432. Patented Aug. 25, 1891.

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UNITEDV STATES QFFC? PA'rENT ALBERT D. SMITH AND FRANK XV. SMITH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

AUTOMATIC RELEASE fFOR CABLE-GRIPS.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 458,432, dated August 25, 1891.

Application filed April 22, 1891.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ALBERT D. SMITH and FRANKW. SMITH, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Releases for Cable-Grips, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

Our invention relates to improvements in automatic releases for cable-crossings; and it consists in the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and designated in the claim.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of our complete invention as applied to a cable-grip. Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken on the linen@ of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the frame-work which fits over the cable-grip and also the block which depresses the same, the parts broken away. Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a dog which is carried by the grip-lever, and also shows the manner in which the same is disengaged by the mechanism embodied in our invention; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a connecting-bar which we employ in connection withl the frame-work, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 3.

The object of our invention is to construct a device for automatically releasing the grip from the cable at cable-crossings as the car advances.

The device that we employ is adapted to be attached to the ordinary cable-grip without any material change or modification in the same. v

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates a cable-grip of ordinary construction, showing the same properly located in the slot of the frame-work of the subway and also clamping the cable 2.

3 indicates the cable that crosses cable 2. The gripl embodies the ordinaryconstruction, as above stated, and is also functionally operated as ordinary grips, and requires no minute description or further elucidation.

Referring to the grip-releasing mechanism, 4 indicates a frame, preferably of the construction as shown in Fig. 3. Said frame has an open end, which is preferably connected by a connecting-bar 5, of the construction as Serial No. 390,031. (No model.)

shown in Fig. o. Said frame 4 is provided with projecting portion 6, for the purpose hereinafter described, and also with eyes or perforations 7, in which the ends of the connecting-bar 5 are adapted to be inserted. Said connecting-bar 5 is provided with a perforation 8, in which an'upright piece 9 may be secured, and also with aperforation 10, in which a pin 11 may be inserted for holding said connecting-bar 5 in the frame 4. Frame 4 is also provided with a bearing or perforation 12, in which an upright piece 13 may be secured. Frame 4 is adjustable in a vertical direction on upright pieces 9 and 13. Upright pieces 9 and 13 are secured in any suitable and mechanical manner to a U-shaped bar 14, preferably, however, as shown in the drawings.

15 indicates a bar corresponding in form to the upper portion of the grip, the ends of said bar being secured in any. suitable and mechanical manner to the U-shaped bar 14, preferably, however, as shown in the drawings.

16 indicates the grip-lever, which is of the ordinary construction, the same being interposed between bar 15 and the tooth portion 17 of the grip.

18 indicates bands or rings which hold bar 15 in the desired position, thereby permitting the same to move upwardly and downwardly.

19 indicates a spiral spring which is secured to grip-lever 16 and to the toothed portion of the grip, the function of which is to pull the grip-lever over to release the cable when the same is disengaged from 17.

Inplace of using spiral spring 19, as illustrated,we may use avolute spring and mount the same on bolt 20, which secures the griplever to the grip, as shown in dotted lines.

Grip-lever 16 carries a dog 21, the same bcing provided with a lateral projecting portion 22', which lies normally under bar 15. Of course when bar 15 presses on the said portion the dog will be disengaged and the lever 16 willbe drawn over by the agency of spring 19, thereby opening the jaws of the grip and releasing cable 2. y

Having described the mechanism by which the dog carried by the grip-lever is disengaged, we will now proceed to describe the means for depressing the said mechanism, which operation effects said disengagement.

IOO

22 indicates blocks or wedges, preferably of the construction as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, which are secured in any suitable and mechanical manner to the under side of the frame-Work 23 of the subway adjacent to the slot in which the grip moves. Said blocks or Wedges may be made of any desired length and are located, as hereinbefore stated, laterally relative to the crossing-cable 3. When the grip moves along, as shown by an arrow in Fig. 1, the projecting portions 6 Will strike the under surface ofthe wedge or wedges 22. The tapering form of said blocks or wedges 22, as illustrated, will necessarily depress the frame 4 and the bar 15, which is actuated by said frame. The bar will press downwardly on the projection 22', and consequently disengage dog 21.

25 indicates a spiral spring, one end of which is secured to bolt 2O and the opposite end thereof secured to the U-shaped bar 14, the function of which is to restore the frame- Work 4 and its attachments to their normal position after they have been lowered or depressed by thc Wedges or blocks 22. XVe may employ one or more blocks at the cable-crossing. It may be observed that frame-work 4 and the mechanism secured thereto is free to move upwardly and downwardly on the lower portion of grip 1.

Having fully described our inventiomwhat we claim is- The herein-described automatic release for cable-crossings, having a vertically-adj ustable fraxne, such as 4, a connecting-bar, such as 5, for connecting the ends of said frame, upright pieces 9 and 13, secured to'said connecting-bar and frame, respectively, a U- shaped bar 14, secured to said upright pieces, a bar 15, secured to said U-shaped bar and adapted to depress and disengage a dog 21, carried by the grip-lever, a spring 19 for operating said grip-lever, and a wedge or block, such as 22, for depressing or lowering said frame-Work 4, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereot` we affix our signatures in presence of two Witnesses.

ALBERT D. SMITH. FRANK WV. SMITH. Witnesses:

BENJ. J. KLENE, E. E. LONGAN. 

